Is it well with my soul?

2Co 12:10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

I am sure we can all agree just how radical this is. Paul takes pleasure in his sickness, in his persecutions, when he is distressed, when people come against him. The pleasure comes from the fact that when he is weak in his flesh, when he is in great need, when he is suffering, then Christ rises up in Him and therefore he becomes strong.

Now what is the key to this? For we know that especially in today’s Christendom this is far from normative? In much of Christianity today when one is sick it is not normal to take pleasure in it, in fact, quite the opposite. We are taken up with thoughts of getting relief from the sickness, getting delivered, getting healed. How many of us revel in the fact that this experience is going to make us stronger in Christ? Yet is this not exactly what Paul is saying?

The same thing applies to persecutions and trials and tribulations. How radical would it be to enter into a trial thinking ” I am going to come out of this stronger in Christ.” It is totally radical but I put it to you brothers and sisters, that having this mindset is the key to not just surviving a trail or a tribulation or a sickness, but it is the key to thriving in the very midst of it.

It comes down to choice. In every single situation, every single one of them, we can choose to be blessed in it. We can choose to take pleasure in knowing that Christ in me the hope of glory will arise out of the darkness of this situation and bathe me in His marvelous light. Where this is this light the darkness has to flee. Can we say today brothers and sisters “It is well with my soul.”